So, I bought a Strat today.....My first Strat...

[Strat+Marshall]

Send that bitch to GA and I'll route it out for free! (don't worry I'm qualified)

Iv'e played alot of the CS strats that completely smoke all the EJs Ive played too.

 

[70strathead]

I'm quickly finding that I'm not a Strat guy. It's not just the tone...and it's not the neck. It's strange, it's like it's the scale length or something. I don't see myself keeping it. FUCK ME!!

be a man J, don't puss out on me man! u need to unleash the fucking fury with those cameron's with some single coil sizzle!! Mr. Dan has great points, i have a YJM that is smoking and a 69 reissue with and original 72 neck. Mostly hs-3 bridge and YJM neck....but some I have vitual Vintage style. The scale length is definitey longer than a gibson scale length guitar so you will have more tension with strings...but that where u get some tone going on man. Also, the EJ strat is 12' radius which is really flat compared to a american standard/YJM 9.5 ' or vintage reissues 7 1/2...so really it should be easier to bend. Also if u were to put huge frets on that guitar it would play like butter and float the trem and take off two springs. ( 3 total)...The YJM neck is a C shape all around ( modeled after a 71' strat), much more comfortable to play in my opinion than that neck u have. good luck, and if u do wanna sell that EJ , I may give u an offer.

 

[70strathead]

I'm quickly finding that I'm not a Strat guy. It's not just the tone...and it's not the neck. It's strange, it's like it's the scale length or something. I don't see myself keeping it. FUCK ME!!

Seriously... go try out a YJM or 69RI Custom shop strat. I like those two models way more than the EJ strat!

Also.. big headstocks are cooler

totally agree! no question

 

[badger71]

The Malmsteen Strat I owned felt and played waaaaay better than any EJ Strat I've ever tried. I really dug that scalloped neck. That being said, you just may not dig that 25.5 scale no matter what "cut" of traditional Strat/Tele etc....I recently purchased a Godin superstrat-esque guitar....the Redline-1. It has the 24 3/4 scale. It plays riduculously well....Gibby scale with a "S" body. Shop around, if you can, and try out scale lengths to see what "fits" you.

 

[MrDan666]

Seriously... go try out a YJM or 69RI Custom shop strat. I like those two models way more than the EJ strat!

Also.. big headstocks are cooler

totally agree! no question

I also agree Ant that the HS-3 can sound fat and PAF-ish through a good Marshall rig!! I had a HS-3 lying around in its box and just for fun i decided to put it in the bridge of a cheap Musicyo Kramer guitar i had...

When i plugged in to test it, it sounded unbelievably good!!! I never had the chance to try out the YJM pickup though in my guitars. How does it differ tonally from the HS-3 in your Strats?

 

[70strathead]

Seriously... go try out a YJM or 69RI Custom shop strat. I like those two models way more than the EJ strat!

Also.. big headstocks are cooler

totally agree! no question

I also agree Ant that the HS-3 can sound fat and PAF-ish through a good Marshall rig!! I had a HS-3 lying around in its box and just for fun i decided to put it in the bridge of a cheap Musicyo Kramer guitar i had...

When i plugged in to test it, it sounded unbelievably good!!! I never had the chance to try out the YJM pickup though in my guitars. How does it differ tonally from the HS-3 in your Strats?

hey Dan, The YJM is essentially the same thing as a HS-3 ( same output) but with a bit more presence ( vintage staggered poles) and it's really meant to be used in the neck position...which is where I put it. very "bubbly" sounding and smooth.

 

[Digital Jams]

Lets have this guy explain the YJM pup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp4oqwNbWXo

Man the dude just flat out destroys..............

 

[70strathead]

Lets have this guy explain the YJM pup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp4oqwNbWXo

Man the dude just flat out destroys..............

I got a chance to meet and talk to Steve vai during this tour and asked him what it was like playing along side of YJM and this what he said " Well it's like this, every time he plug's in his guitar, the hole in my guitar where I plug in the chord would start shrinking" ..he was serious too.

 

[MrDan666]

hey Dan, The YJM is essentially the same thing as a HS-3 ( same output) but with a bit more presence ( vintage staggered poles) and it's really meant to be used in the neck position...which is where I put it. very "bubbly" sounding and smooth.

Sounds like i would like it!

Quick question about the YJM strat... is it a big difference playing the YJM and then switching back to a non scalloped guitar? to the point where it makes playing on the non scalloped guitar feel more difficult than it actually is?

 

[MrDan666]

Lets have this guy explain the YJM pup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp4oqwNbWXo

Man the dude just flat out destroys..............

 

[moronmountain]

I was suprised to see that the EJ Strat has such a flat radius. The more curved radius (and scale length to some extent) is why I don't like Strats. I may actually like the EJ Strat I think.

 

[badger71]

hey Dan, The YJM is essentially the same thing as a HS-3 ( same output) but with a bit more presence ( vintage staggered poles) and it's really meant to be used in the neck position...which is where I put it. very "bubbly" sounding and smooth.

Sounds like i would like it!

Quick question about the YJM strat... is it a big difference playing the YJM and then switching back to a non scalloped guitar? to the point where it makes playing on the non scalloped guitar feel more difficult than it actually is?

Actually, playing on a scalloped board "should" show you if you have flawed left hand technique. If you apply too much pressure fretting notes/chords, you'll definitely go sharp ala John McLaughlin....although he's after those accidentals. Scalloped boards seem to be a love'em/hate'em thing but for me, they help me focus on fretting properly. YMMV. You shouldn't have any problems going back to a regular board...it may feel different to you but nothing you wouldn't get over....IMO.

 

[Digital Jams]

Lets have this guy explain the YJM pup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp4oqwNbWXo

Man the dude just flat out destroys..............

I got a chance to meet and talk to Steve vai during this tour and asked him what it was like playing along side of YJM and this what he said " Well it's like this, every time he plug's in his guitar, the hole in my guitar where I plug in the chord would start shrinking" ..he was serious too.

I am a very big Vai fanboi but I am not that blinded, Yngwie destroyed everyone on that stage The opening of rocking the Free World Yngwie is laying down some monster fills and during the 20 second share the stage Yngwie brings the flamethrower out

 

[badger71]

I was suprised to see that the EJ Strat has such a flat radius. The more curved radius (and scale length to some extent) is why I don't like Strats. I may actually like the EJ Strat I think.

I like the 12" radius....its why I prefer G&Ls over most other guitar mfgs. However, the EJ felt a bit different to me....

 

[tweed]

Lets have this guy explain the YJM pup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp4oqwNbWXo

Man the dude just flat out destroys..............

 

[ratter]

Lets have this guy explain the YJM pup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp4oqwNbWXo

Man the dude just flat out destroys..............

I got a chance to meet and talk to Steve vai during this tour and asked him what it was like playing along side of YJM and this what he said " Well it's like this, every time he plug's in his guitar, the hole in my guitar where I plug in the chord would start shrinking" ..he was serious too.

lol!

 

[MrDan666]

Actually, playing on a scalloped board "should" show you if you have flawed left hand technique. If you apply too much pressure fretting notes/chords, you'll definitely go sharp ala John McLaughlin....although he's after those accidentals. Scalloped boards seem to be a love'em/hate'em thing but for me, they help me focus on fretting properly. YMMV. You shouldn't have any problems going back to a regular board...it may feel different to you but nothing you wouldn't get over....IMO.

Ok that makes sense

Im thinking the YJM strat would work incredibly well tonally and playability-wise for what im doing at the moment!

 

[White_Van]

I am a very big Vai fanboi but I am not that blinded, Yngwie destroyed everyone on that stage The opening of rocking the Free World Yngwie is laying down some monster fills and during the 20 second share the stage Yngwie brings the flamethrower out

I can't agree with you. For me atleast, yes Malmsteen's technique is astounding but he needs to slow the fuck down. Vai's solo in Little Wing is the epic moment of the show IMO.

 

[bill]

Do yourself a favor and keep it stock. I have modified several of my guitars and always lived to regret it. Aside from the regrets the stock strat is a great guitar and needs to be played as such. You will learn to love the single coils after some time with it. I have two strats and some guitars with humbuckers also. No one guitar can do it all. Thats why God allowed man to invent Les Pauls and Strats. Just switch back and forth and that way you can justify more than one axe to the wife.

 

[70strathead]

hey Dan, The YJM is essentially the same thing as a HS-3 ( same output) but with a bit more presence ( vintage staggered poles) and it's really meant to be used in the neck position...which is where I put it. very "bubbly" sounding and smooth.

Sounds like i would like it!

Quick question about the YJM strat... is it a big difference playing the YJM and then switching back to a non scalloped guitar? to the point where it makes playing on the non scalloped guitar feel more difficult than it actually is?

Absolutely, in terms of techinque and feel. I have 3 strats scalloped including the YJM and there are certain things that are easier to pull off( IMO ) vs. a normal neck. For instance, bending/vibrato, sweep arpeggios and overall control in single note lines. It also introduces a unique sound compared to normal neck. This may sound tempermental, but I typically noodle/practice mostly on a regular neck fitted with dunlop 6000's frets and as soon as i jump to scalloped neck guitar, its like playing on air and flawless for me. wierd thing.....most people have issues with pitch on a scallop, so it depends on your hand touch. I use a very light/economical approach with works for me. I also string my action fairly high but use light guage strings so there is lots of string breathing in between. I prefer chording on a normal strat though.